Mendham Tented Outdoor Wedding: Annie & Joseph: New Jersey Wedding Photographers

Next up on our list of favorites from the past is the stunning outdoor tented wedding in Mendham New Jersey of Annie & Joseph.  These two love birds were life long acquaintances but didn't start dating until they began teaching at the same school about a year after collage.  Years later Joseph proposed to Annie on their last day of the school year.

On the wedding day Annie looked absolutely radiant in a Maggie Sottero gown with delicate beading and lace capped sleeves from Arlene's Bridal Shop.  Her veil and accessories where from Model Bride of Chatham.  Annie's sister Kristen Luciano is the owner of  House of Luciano an on location makeup service of Morristown.  So of course Annie's makeup was flawless!  The girls looked incredible in the most beautiful Nicole Miller gowns from Nicole Miller in Livingston NJ.  They were iridescent green with hints of hot pink paired with hot pink shoes.  That color palette was carried on by Crest Florist of East Hanover who choose bright fuchsia peonies, pink roses and green hydrangeas for the flowers.  The invitations by Catherine Kiff-Vozza, Couture Stationer of Sparta NJ had a delicate green scroll work patten & pink accents.

For the ceremony the bride choose Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown where she herself had been a student years ago.  The nuns who taught her watched on lovingly as the bride and groom exchanged there vows.

For the reception the bride choose her family home in Mendham which is a beautiful historic school house that they converted to a home with lush green grounds and a babbling brook.  Guests where greeted with place cards of delicate calligraphy by 24 Karat Designs of Newton NJ.  Arrangements of fuchsia peonies where placed in lime filled containers and green & pink favors made the tent vibrant as a gentle mist settled on the stream outside where guests were treated to celebratory cigars and cocktails.  Rosa Luca's Italian Bistro of Asbury Park created an amazing display of the finest ingredients. The Pink Cake Box of Denville made a true work of art with the multi layered cake covered in sugar flowers and Hoi Polloi of Randolf entertained the guests.

All in all a magical day!

The Bonnet Island Estate: The Wedding of Melissa & Rob

It's been wonderful reliving some of my favorite weddings through the years.  Melissa & Rob's wedding on the beautiful Bonnet Island Estate was full of love, laughter and joy.  Their engagement story was just magical! Rob led Melissa on a treasure hunt for clues around NYC.  Clues were left at their favorite breakfast place, the place they first met, and the restaurant were they had their first date.  The two finally met up at a restaurant and Rob greeted her with a bouquet of blue hydrangeas.  Melissa thought, "This is it we are going to get engaged!"  But Rob had more up his sleeve as he handed her a hand drawn map of NYC and the hunt continued.  The final clue led to Riverside Park the scene of their favorite painting and after looking under every bench for the final clue Rob got on one knee and proposed. They had originally wanted a NYC wedding but when they saw the boathouse chapel at The Bonnet Island Estate it reminded them so much of Martha's Vineyard, their first vacation spot, they knew it was the perfect place.  MDS Floral Designs used their wonderful story as the inspiration for their wedding day arrangements.  Lush hydrangeas, simple seashells and blue ribbon embellishments were just the right touch.  William Arthur fine stationary from Paper Peddler in Springfield NJ added to the feel with their crisp invites with a detail of the boathouse chapel.  For the save the dates the groom, a talented artist, recreated their treasure hunt.  The bride's father even built a mini version of the beloved boathouse chapel.  A Melissa Sweet gown for the bride and marine blue bridesmaids gowns by Alfred Angelo were perfect additions. Merri-Makers Caterers offered exquisite service for the reception and The Savoy Stompers from Elegant Ensembles were a perfect fit.

Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club: Katie & Kevin's Classic Shore Wedding: Monmouth County Wedding Photographers

This is a lovely classic shore wedding from a few years back.  Katie & Kevin meet through mutual friends years before they started dating and lost touch.  As irony would have it just as Katie was about to sing the papers on her new Upper East Side apartment she reconnected with Kevin who lived just a mile away.  The sparks flew and a year & half later the two were at there favorite rooftop spot in the city when Katie looked across the street to see a sign hung out the window of an apartment building that said "Katie, will you marry me?"  Kevin then swept her away to close restaurant were he had both of their families waiting!  On the big day Katie looked divine in her classic Vera Wang sheath dress and Kate Spade shoes with hair and make up from Salon Kokopelli in Spring Lake.  The bridesmaids looked ready for a shore wedding in marine blue gowns from Amsale.  Kate Duffy of Katydid Signature Floral & Event Design created splendid cream bouquets for the girls and vibrant pink peonies & roses for Katie with a silver starfish accent.  They married in St. Mark's Catholic Church in Sea Girt NJ and then hopped on the trolley to head to the Spring Lake beach and bridge for some portraits.  For the reception the couple chose the elegant Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club in Farmingdale where Tim McLoone & The Shirley's entertained the crowd through the night.

The Madison Hotel: Emily & Pete: New Jersey Wedding Photographers

Here is another one of my favorite past weddings that we didn't have a chance to blog about.  Emily & Pete are so in love!  They just beamed when they look at each other.  Their beautiful wedding took place at The Madison Hotel in Morristown NJ with their rehearsal dinner at The Bernards Inn.  Emily looked stunning in a Mariage Couture gown and Stuart Weitzman shoes.  The bridesmaids looked fresh and elegant in their navy blue and cream dresses by Alvina Valenta. Dara Ellis of Designs by Dara in Colts Neck  created wonderful bouquets to pair with the simple sophistication of the day.  The ceremony took place in one of the most beautiful churches Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bernardsville NJ.  The Madison Hotel was a lovely back drop as the bride and groom took a quick walk around the property as husband and wife.  The Starlyte Band had their hands full with this dancing crowd!  The dance floor was packed the entire night with friends & family!

Plainfield Country Club: A French Country Wedding: New Jersey Wedding Photographers

With spring in the air I have been revisiting some of my favorite weddings of the past that I didn't get a chance to blog about.  Here is one of my favorite French Country weddings at the beautiful Plainfield Country Club.  The lovely bride Tracy look elegant and timeless in her lace Anne Barge gown from Kleinfeld Bridal.  Her bouquet by David Mitchell of Still Life Fine Event Design was gorgeous and the fresh herbs were just the right touch.  Bill the groom chose a classic Joseph Abboud Tux.   One of our all time favorite party planners JoAnn Gregoli of Elegant Occasions helped to pull this French Country vision together.   The ceremony was held at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Parish with the sun shining down.    The party then moved to The Plainfield Country Club were the guests enjoyed a beautiful outdoor cocktail hour with fresh cucumber water, a market vegetable spread and artisan breads inspired by the bride and groom's love of farmers markets.  Instead of a traditional cake Tracy & Bill went for a 'cheese cake' made from rounds of imported cheeses from Murray's Cheese Shop of New York decorated with sugared fruits.  David Mitchell of Still Life Fine Event Design created charming, rustic and romantic table displays.  I loved the white porcelain containers in various shapes and sizes with pewter chargers and golden yellow and hydrangea blue linens.  The table’s place cards were sweet vintage seed packages!  The lovely stationary was by Ceci of New York.  Lighting design by Stortz Lighting and music by The Le Blanc Brothers just made the night.

The Best of 2011: New Jersey Wedding Photographers: New Jersey Portrait Photographers

It has been a beautiful year and we have been blessed with amazing clients!  It is always such an special feeling to be invited into the most important moments of someones life: their wedding, the pregnancy, the first child, and the growing families.  Here are some of our favorite memories from this past year.....

Baltusrol Golf & Country Club: A Holiday Affair! : New Jersey Wedding Photographers

It's not very often that we have a couple that were each others date for the 8th grade formal but Kate & Brennan were just that.  Their great love and natural ease around each other was something so special.  The sun shone brightly and the air was crisp on one of the most beautiful December days in memory.  Kate held back tears as she opened her gifts from Brennan on her wedding morning.  A beautiful gold honeymoon band with their wedding date engraved and second diamond band.  She smiled as she joking recalled the band "Now I have a stone for each year we've been dating!" Her sisters helped her into her lace Lazaro gown with custom crystal inlaid belt.  She slipped on her bright red Valentino stilettos,  just the thing for a December wedding.  Classic red roses from Flowers From Hannah and gold edged invites by William Arthur from The Papery in Summit fell right in line with the season.  All three girls gathered around their father as he brought out their mother's jewelry.  She loved to go to estate sales and collect special pieces. Each girl lovingly helped pick out bracelets for one another.  Kate descended the stairs to the christmas tree to meet her attendants.  Each girl chose her own black gown to match her personality and held a beautiful 1920's style silver holder with a nosegay of white roses.  The excellent day of event coordinator Jan Stephens of Something Social calmly ushered the wedding party to  Christ the King Church of New Vernon. The beautiful church with it's classic black & white checkered floor and blue walls is one of the prettiest to photograph.  Even the swans were out on the lake in front.    The sermon was a touching statement on love & hospitality.  It doesn't take much to see that Kate & Brennan have those wonderful qualities in abundance.  The reception moved to the beloved Baltusrol Golf & Country Club where a traditional bagpiper greeted guests.  The Cunningham Brothers Band kept the crowd on their toes all through the night with their mix of high energy dance music and touches of traditional Irish tunes.

Golden Autumn Light: A Navesink Country Club Wedding: Monmouth County Wedding Photographers

Bathed in soft golden light Christy & Brett made their first steps as a newly married couple.  Christy was radiant in her Priscilla of Boston gown with soft chiffon flower applique.  Simple drop pearl earrings and bracelet from her mother were paired with a petal accented veil creating a soft classic look with a twist.  "Dorothy meets Cinderella" shoes by Kate Spade made Christy's eyes sparkle bright.  Darryn Murphy Designs created soft romantic bouquets of blush and cream roses.  The ceremony was at Holy Cross of Rumson, with its beautiful red doors and vibrant community.  The sheaths of wheat and simple elegant programs by Pauline's Paperie captured the autumn feel.  For the ceremony they chose the beautiful Navesink Country Club were we were able to catch the last rays of warming sun before heading indoors for a great reception with music by The Kevin Osbourne Band.

Bonnet Island Estate: A Modern Beach Wedding in Blue: Bonnet Island Photographers

The breeze floated gently through delicate layers of chiffon and late blooming floral bushes at The Bonnet Island Estate. Stephanie looked fresh, modern & elegant in a stunning Mikaella gown with just the right touch of sweet ruffling in the back.  Jeweled Badgley Miscka shoes, dramatic drop earrings and a single rhinestone starfish hair pin underneath her sparkling veil completed her take on a modern beach bride.  The make up by Lara DiPeitro was soft, natural and refined which emphasized Stephanie's gorgeous big brown eyes.  Pete and his groomsmen looked dashing in their Jean Yves Tuxes in a classic grey a true compliment to Pete's red hair.  The couple chose St. Thomas of Aquinas Church just steps away from the family beach home in Beach Haven.  These Siena College grads meet freshman year and were fast friends all through school.  Senior year they began dating and the magic began.  Pete is a true romantic at heart and proposed under a full moon at the Hoboken Riverfront were they now live.  They walked hand in hand to a nearby restaurant were both families were waiting to celebrate.

Avenue Flowers brought a crisp and clean romantic feel to the bridesmaids flowers with white hydrangea, lavender roses and just a touch of green all tied together with periwinkle ribbon.  Smith Letterpress carried on the elegant modern theme with beautiful invitations with a surprise touch of deep purple inside the envelopes and botanical accent sketches on letterpress paper.

Avenue Flowers greeted guests with a bright, airy and eclectic mix of green & white floral arrangements and fresh green apples in varying silver vases.  As the night drew on crystal balls & chandelier trails caught the setting sun creating a magical modern day story tale effect.

Stephanie's dad fondly remembered the frantic streak of red as he met his ever energetic future son in law for the first time.  Pete quickly found a place in their family & Stephanie found her place in his.The Christopher Michaels Band had such fun entertaining this daredevil crowd of dancers with a wonderful selection of horns, talented signers and hand drums.  Pete got the dancing award!

As the night drew on, dusk set over the ever peaceful waterfront estate while the sweet couple stole a tender moment.

Casual Club Elegance: A Baltusrol Wedding: New Jersey Wedding Photographers

Congratulations to Hally & Nick!! 

Details Details:

Event Planner: Sarah Pease of  Brilliant Event Planning

Florist: Bloomers Floral & Event Design

Church: Christ the King Church of New Vernon

Reception: Baltusrol Golf & Country Club